Illuminating mirror



April 24, 1928. V I 1,667,545

w. B. GODDARD ILLUMINATING MIRROR Filed Nov. 15,1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' Has . INVENTOI wzg mw. aoddmz, y

' ATTORNEY. v

April 24, 1928. 1,667,545

W. B. GODDARD ILLUMINATING MIRROR Fileq v- 15-. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. 72 M B; Goddard,

ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr.- 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILFRED B. GODDARD, 0]? BUBLINGAHE, CALIFORNIA.

ILLUMINATING MIRROR.

Application "filed November 15, 1926. Serial No. 148,535.

This invention relates to illuminating mirrors, and particularly toimprovements in mirrors of that type disclosed in my prior Patent No.1,138,552, dated May s, 1915. designed for illuminating the face of aperson or other object and reflecting the same in a mirror in suchmanner as to secure a clear and shadowless reflection without glare orobjectionable concentration of light upon the face of the person or uponthe object being reflected.

One object of the invention is to provide an illuminating mirror and alight reflecting and diffusing casing containing a source of light andhaving a light emission opening between the margins of the mirror andthe casing through which light free from glare or shadows will be thrownupon the face of a person or object to. be viewed in the mirror, thecasing serving also for transmit ting a soft or subdued lightsubstantially throughout its whole extent of surface, thereby producinga device which may be employed as a mirror having peculiar and desirablecharacteristics as well as a light fixture for general illuminatingpurposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mirror adapted forshavin or other toilet purposes in which the emission opening betweenthe margins of the mirror and the casing is so formed and arranged as toreflect the light from the casing upon the lower portion and sides ofthe face of the person lookin into the nurrorn and so that the light .diused from the casing and reflected by surrounding objects willilluminate the upper portion of the face of the user, thus preventingany light from directly shining into the eyes of the observer andcausing eye strain or other eye distress.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an illuminatingmirror with a. light reflecting and diflusing casing which will softenthe light and permit an electric lamp of comparatively high candle powerto he used as a source of illumination without causing shadows or lure.

A still further ()bjBCt of the invention is to provide an illuminatingmirror so constructnd as to protect and prevent injury to the reflectingsurface or hacking of the mirror from the heat of the electric lamp andwhich will dissipate the heat so as to prevent fogging of the mirror orundesirlight I able heating of any of the parts of the device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a highlyornamentaland attractivetype of illuminating mirror which may be eitherof portable or stationary type and constructed to be mounted upon a Wallor other vertical surface or to be supported upon a table, stand orother horizontal surface, and in which the various assembly elements areof unitary type, enabling the parts to be stored or shipped with greatfacility and the article to be easily, conveniently, readil andeconomically made by assemblage o the unitary parts.

A still further object of the invention is to provide anilluminating'mirror which ma be employed as a mirror and also as a lig treflector. and in which the mirror frame terms a rear reflector forconcentrating the light upon the reflecting and diffusirfihgcasing so asto secure a high degree of e ciency of light reflecting and difiusingactions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novelconstruction of light refleeting and difl'usin casing which, in additionto performing t e several functions described, constitutes an ornamentalpart of the device.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination andarrangement of parts, hereinafter fully described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which t Figure 1 is a frontview of an illuminating mirror embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof as employed as a wall mirror andlight fixture.

Figure 3 is a vertical section taken centrally from front-to-rearthrough the device.

Figure 4 is a horizontal transverse section on line 4-+l of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a horizontal transverse section on line 55 of Figure 3omitting the mirror.

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the casing per se. I

Figure 7 is a rear perspective view there-- of,

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the lamp and mirror carrying bracket.

Figure 5) is a rear elevation of the mirror.

Figures 10 and 11 are front and rear perspectlve views of the casingcarrier bracket. Figure 12 is a view showing the device as adapted foruse as a portable mirror and light fixture.

The device comprises as essential elements a mirror 1, a casing orhousing 2, and :a source of illumination 3, such as an electric lamp,disposed in said easim or housing. A conducting cord 4 is suitablyconnected with the terminals of the lamp and is designed in practice tolead therefrom to any sultable source of electric current supply.

The mirror 1 is preferably made of glass and may be of circular, oval orother suitable outline form. It is provided with a beveled frontmarginal edge 5 and with a light reflecting coating 6. A backing orframe plate 7 carries the mirror glass and is disposed upon the rearface thereof and provided with a marginal bead or flange 8 which is bentover so as to partially overlap the .beveled margin 5. Arranged betweenthe ,back of the mirror glass and the body of the backing or frame plate7 are layers 9 and 10, respectivelmof insulating fibre or other su1ta leinsulating material, which lie in'eo'ntact with the mirror coating 6 andinner or front face of the backing plate 7, and between which insulatinglayers 9 and 10 is interposed a. layer 11 of a heat non-conducti'ngmaterial, such as asbestos. The plate 7 is made preferably of sheetaluminum'or other-bright, non-tarnishingmetahthe outer faeeof which isproperly finished or olished to provide a rear reflecting sur ace 12.Formed on .or applied to the rear face of the plate 7 is a pair ofspaced socket members 13, closed at their upper. ends and open at theirlower ends, and adapted for engagement with the mirror and lamp carrierbracket, as hereinafter described. When the device is in use, the.metallic backing plate 7, which .is a good heat conductor,

absorbs a large proportion of the heat from' the lamp 3, such heatproducing an induced circulation of air upward through the-casing andbetween-the same and the back of I the mirror, whereby the heat willbereadily dissipated, the backing plate serving this connection as ahighly efficient heat collector and dissipator. The purpose of thenoneonducting layers. 9, 10 and .11 between the mirror glass and themirror backing plate is to prevent any material amount of this heat frombeing transmitted to the mirror glass, this insulating action. andthe'dissipation of the heat preventing clouding or fogging of the mirrorand ensuring an absolute clearness of. the mirror at all times forthefaiththerein; and reflected therefrom.

'- The casing 2 is preferably made of translueent glass, of a whitecolor or other suit-. able color givmg it a mat surface efiect,so

ful reproduction of the image appearing" to produce with the mirror andother parts of the device a highly attractive illuminating mirror andlight fixture. As shown particularly in Figures 6 and 7, .the casingcomprises the shell open at the front and. consisting of a body portion14 of major dimensions and a surmounting upper or crown portion 15 ofreduced dlmensions with respect thereto. The body portion consists of agenerally eoncavo-convex rear wall 16 and a forwardly projected sidewall 17, ,the rim edge 18 of which latter is flat and has all of itsportions arranged in a common plane, while the crown portion 15 issemidome shaped and comprises a generally concavo-convex rear wall 19having a forwardly projected side wall 20, the rim" edge 21 of which isflat and has all of its surfaces lying in the same plane. The wall 17 ofthe body portion 14 is curved or extends on a semi-elliptical are or anare somewhat greater than a semi-ellipse, while the wall of the marginaledge 21 of the crown por-' tion 15. Except at these points the marginaledge-21 of the crown portion 15, thus providing a recess between theshoulders 23 in the plane of which the rim edge 21 lies so as to form anabutment'wall. The

body portion 14 is centrally deepened by the provision of a rearwardlbulged portion 24 on its rear wall, thus arming a eavity 25communicating with the interior of the casing chamber, and the crownportion 15 is provided upon its body wall 'with a rearwardly projectinghollow rib or boss 26 forming on its inner side a groove or cavity 2-7,and the rim edge 21 is provided with a notch or recess 28 communicatingwith the top of this cavity. In the casing is also I formed between thecavities 25'and 27 abollow rearwardly projectin transverse boss 29forming a cavity 30 w ich communicates witdh ghe adjacent ends of thecavities ,25 an 2 mirronas here nafter described. For con- The mirror 1is supported at the front of heating and supporting the mirror, casin Vand lamp in proper relative positions, ant mounting the device upon aWall bracket, standard or other suitable support, carrier brackets 31and 32 are employed. The

bracket 31, which I term the casing carrier I clamping andguide platesor lugs 37, while at its lower end the bracket 31 is provided withlaterally extending apertured attaching arms 38 and rearwardlyprojecting apertured bracket arms 39. The channeled body portion 33 ofthis bracket 31 receives and'embraces the rib or boss 26 at the rear ofthe upper part of the casing, and its tongue 36 extends into andoverhangs the notch or recess 38, against the wall of which the clampingand guide lugs 37 bear, the bracket thus having a clamping engagementwith the top of the casing, while the attaching arms 38 bear upon therear face of the boss 29, .which boss is apertured for the passage ofsecuring bolts 40 which pass through the openings in-the arms 38, theopenings in the wall of the boss 29 and through'openings in a clampingplate 41 seated in the recess 30, whereby the lower end of the bracket31 is fixed to the casing. The mirror and lamp carrier bracket 32comprises an inverted u shaped flat metal body portion 42 provided atits opposite' sides with upstanding holding prongs or arms 43, at itsbase with a right angularly rojecting holding'ring 44, and at its topwith a pair of right angularlv projecting apertured hinging arms 45. Theprongs 43 of this carrier bracket are adapted to receive and engage thesocket members 13 on the back of the mirror, for detachably supportingthe mirror in position, while the ring 44 is adapted to lie between thelamp socket 46 and a clamping ring 47 in threaded, engagement with thelamp socket, whereby the bulb receiving base orsocket of the lamp may behung suspended in the'casing chamher between the rear wall of the casingand the back of the mirror. The arms 45 of the bracket 32- are arrangedto overlap the hinge members 35 of bracket .31,-and a bolt or screw 48passes through said-arms and hinge members and detachabiy and pivotallyconnects them together. The arms 45ure so arranged as to'be received inthe notch or recess 48 when the mirror is disposed in normal posi tionas shown in Figures 1 and 3, thus allowing the: mirror to come into .thespace between the shoulders 23 and to bear against the abutment rim 21,whereby it is supported firmly in its normally downturned or workingposit-ion.- In such position also the lamp socket and stem of the lampbulb are received partially in the, cavity 27 and lie snugly between andin spaced relation to the mirror and back wall of the casing, while theenlarged portion of the lamp bulb is partially received in the cavity 25and spaced from the mirror and back wall of the casing, allowing a lampof comparatively large size and candle power to be received withouttouching-the mirror or. casing and transmitting an undue amount of heatthereto. As the lamp is carried by the hinged bracket which supports themirror, both the mirror and the lamp may be swung up as a unit to orabove a horizontal position so as to permit ready and convenient accessto the casing for cleaning or adjustment of parts and to the bulb toallow a new bulb to be substituted for a burned out one. The detachableconnection between the mirror and the bracket furthermore permitsremoval of the mirror casing or to allow convenient cleanin of the forstill greater convenience of access to the mirror and repolishing of itssurface 12 whenever necessary. It will, of course, be understood thatthe friction of hinge 48 may be such as to hold the mirror and lampsupported, when elevated, against dropping by gravity while cleaning,adjustments or replacements are being made. It will be observed that thelamp cord 4 extends from the lamp to the exterior between the lugs 37and through the channel 33 of the bracket 31 and between the same andthe boss 26, which parts provide a guideway to permit such runningmotion of the cord as may be necessary in the swinging motions of themirror and lamp and to adapt the cord to pass into the casing in suchmanner as to be concealed from view at its point of entry and to be outof the way of the movable parts of the de:

vice.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the mirror issupport d so as to lie within the frontof the chambel of the body 14, ofthe casing and rest at'its upper portion against the seat face 21 of thetop or crown portion 15 of the casing, a part of the mirror, which ma 1be from one-fourth to one-third more or ess, of its body, measured withregard to its vertical diameter, extending above the horizontal line ofthe top of the casing body, while the remainder of the mirror is boundedby, and its marginal edge below said line is arranged in spaced relationto, the marginal rim edge 18. The light llo emission opening formed bythese marginal are which is eccehtric to the mirror axis.

The light from the lamp 3 will, therefore, be cast outward so as tobethrown or reflected by the concavcd reflecting surfaces formed 7 openingand line of the eyes of the person by the bottom and sides of the casingbody 14 upwardly and inwardly against the lower portion and sides of theface of person looking into the mirror, the projection of li ht at thefront of the casing above the line ot the ends of the arcuate lightemission looking into the mirror being blocked or cut ofi' bythe upperpart of the mirror; 'Thus rays of light directed from all sides ofthemirror upon the face of the person, and particularly those coming abovethe eye level, are prevented, thereby. avoiding muscular eye strainssuch as would be caused by light reflected from all directions-fallingupon'the retina of the eye, especially when the person isshavingorgazing for any material period reflected from sur'roundin oftime into the mirror The portion of llght thus blocked off is made up orcompensated for by the transmission of reflected light from the personsface and the light difl'used through the translucent casing and objects,causing the whole of the face of t e erson and entire surface of themirror toe highly illuminated by a soft light which strongly shows theface of the person Without causing shadows, glare or other objectionableilluminating efi'ects producing eye strain. As stated, the casing ismade (if translucent g ass or other translucent material having a inatsurface, and consequently the rays of light. striking the reflectingsurface vof-the mirror,

reflected back'against the concavcd inner surface of the casing, andreflected outward through the light emission o concaved surfaces, willbe lig it in the form of a soft eifulgent glow, givingilluminatingbrilliancy without shadows or glare. At all. 'times when the lampis'lighted, it will be ap- 3 parent that a portion of this illuminationwill be transmitted ordiifused through the transmitting casing at therear and beyond the sides of the mirror, whereby in addition.

to the result obtained, as above set forth, sufficient light will beproduced to adapt the device to serve as a lighting fixture for gen- Qeral illuminating'purposes where a low degree of illumination isdesired.- I The parts of the device arealso constructed in unitaryformation as to adapt them to be readily and conveniently assembled toform the complete device, thus ensuring strength and stability ofconstruction as well as economy of manufacture.

The devicemay be mounted as a permanent fixture upon a wall'or othersupporter constructed for use as a portable article. As

shown in Figures '2,- 3 and 4, the device may" be adjustably'secured bya pivot and clamping bolt 49 and nut 50, passing through the aperturedbracket arms 45, to a suitable type ofwall fixture 51,or it may beapplied by the same t pe ofv fastening means to the u rightt52 o aportable stand. The bolt 49 1n ning by said.

either case win permit the device to be tilted or adjusted, to an?convenient angle for use and then secure in adjusted position by meansofthe nut 50'.

Having thus fully described my 'invens.

tion, I claim v 1. A device of the character described.

comprising a casing,'.a mirror, a light emission-opening being, formedbetween the easthe casing and ,the mirror, and a unitary; support forthe mirror and the lamp pivotally connecting both the mirrorand the lampwiththe casing.

2. A device of he character described, comprising a casing, a mirror,alight emission opening being formed between the 021s ing and themirror, a'lamp disposed between the casing and the mirror, and a unitarying and the mirror,'a lamp disposed between 7 support forthe mirrorandthe lamp'pivotally connecting both the mirror and the mirror havinginterengaging means wherelamp' with the casing, said support and-L0first-named bracket and overlying the open front of the casing, a lampcarried by the.

second-named bracket, and a mirror also carried by the second-namedbracket and detachably connected therewith.

device of the character described comprising a translucentcasing, asupporting bracket for saidoca'sing, a second bracket connected with thefirst-named bracket, a

lamp within the casing and supported by the second-named bracket, and ta mirror ar-' ranged in advance of the lamp and forming wit the casing alight emission opening, said mirror beln provided with a rear reflectingsurface acing the lamp and being mounted on said lamp carrying bracket.

6. A device of the character describedcomprising a casing, a carrierbracket with no i rier bracket hing d r pivoted to the first-* namedcarrier bracket, said second bracket being provideduwith a supportingmember and a pair-of supporting arms, a lamp ongaging said supportingmember of thesecond carrier bracket, and a-mirror'engaging the arms ofthe second ,carrier bracket.

7. A device- 1 .of the character described comprising a'casing, ,acarrier bracket to which the casing is connected, a, seondcab wlnch thecaslng isconnected, a secondcarrier bracket connected with the firstcarrier bracket and provided with a-,-support1ng member and spacedsupporting arms, a lam carried by the supporting ring of the secon 6carrier bracket, and a mirror provided wlth arms of the second carrierbracket.

8. A device of the character described comprising a casing, a carrierbracket for 10 supporting the casing, a second. carrier bracket hlngedorpivoted to the casing can rier bracket, said second carrierbracket-having a supporting ring and a dpair of sup porting arms, a lampsupporte by the supporting ring of the second carrier bracket,

and a mirror having sockets detachably engaging the supporting arms ofthe second carrier bracket. 9. A' device of the' character described 2comprising a casing a. channeled carrier bracket for supporting thecasing, a second carrier bracket connected with the first carrierbracket, a lamp mounted on the second carrier bracket, a mirror mountedon the. second carrier bracket, and a conductor leading to the lampthrough the channel of the channeled carrier bracket; 10. A device ofthe character described comprising a mirror, a' casin a source of lightin rear of the plane of t e mirror and between the same and the casing,the mirror and casing having marginal portions forming a light emissionopening, said opening extending on a curved line partly but not whollyaround the marginal surfaceof the mirror.

11. A device of the character described comprisinga mirror, a casing,the casing I and the mirror having marginal portions spaced to form alight emission o nin extending around the bottom and sides 0 the mirrorto a point above the horizontal center of the mirror but terminatingbelow the top of the mirror, and a source of light in sockets detachablyengaging the supporting I the casing.

12. A device of the character described comprismg a casin consisting ofa shellllke body open at t e front, a mirror disposed in the open frontof the casing and closing the same for a distance below the top .of themirror, the remainder of the casing and the mirror having their marginalportions spaced to form a light emission opening between them, and asource of light 5:; in the casing and in rear of the: mirror.

13. A device of the character described nal portions spaced to form aight emission opening between them, and a source of light in the casingin rear of the mirror, the inirror having a reflecting surface facingsaid source of light.

14. A device of "the character described comprising a light diffusingand reflecting casing formed of a shell-like body open at the front,said casing having a body-or bowl portion resentinga rim edge extendingon an are 0 major dlameter and a top or crown the casing, theremainderof the mirror hav- I ing its rim portion spacedfrom the rim edge of saidbowl ortion to provide a light emis sion opening etween the same, and asource of light in'the casing and behind the mirror.

15. A- device of the character described I comprising a shell-liketranslucent light diffusing and reflecting casin open at the front andconsisting of a body or bowl portion havin its rim edge extending on arelatively wi e arc and a top or crown portion havlng its rim edgeextending on a relatively smaller arc, the rim edge of the crown,

portion lying in rear of the plane of the rim edge of the bowl portionand intersectmg the ends of the latter, a mirror su ported with itsupper part lying between th of the rim edge of the bowl ortion and inadvance of the rim edge of t e crown portion and closing the open frontof the latter, the remainder of the mirror having its marginal portionspaced from the rim edge of the bowl portion to form alight emissionopening, a bracket fixed to and carrying the casing, a second bracketconnected with the first-named bracket and normally 1 ing in the crownportion of the casing, sai econd bracketiorming a support for themirror,

and a lamp in the casing between the casin and the-mirror and carried bythe secon named bracket.

e ends 16. A device of the character described ,7

comprising a mirror,- a casing,.and a source of light between the mirrorand easing, there being provided between the casing and the mirroralight emission opening extending about'the bottom and sides of themirror an terminating at each sidebelow the top of the mirror.

comprising a mirror,"a casing, and a source of light between the mirrorand casing, there being provided between the casing and the mirror alight emission opening extending about the bottom and sides of themirror and terminating at. each side substantially on a line between thehorizontal transverse center of the mirror and a median line betweensaid line and the top of the mirror.

17. A device of the character described 18. A device pf the eharactei'described with a reflecting surface facing the source 'comprisingacasing, a soprce of light within of light, and heat non-conductmgmaterial the casing, a mirror, a laght emission openbetween the mirror'coating and conducting 0 ing being formedby an dlsposed between back of,the mirror.

5 the casin and mirror, said mlrror compris- In testimony whereof Iafiix my signature.

v ing a ha y of glass having a rear reflecting Coating and heatconducting back provided W'ILFRED B. GODDARD.

